Tuesday, December 11, 2018

AASG Editor Dave Norman, State Geologist of Washington,
working with his highly capable staff, has released the 2018 AASG Journal,
which outlines the ongoing, comprehensive role played by state geological
surveys across the USA. The Journal illustrates the earlier quantitative report
by AASG Statistician Rick Allis, State Geologist of Utah, who reported that
funding to state geological surveys in FY17 was stable as a whole at $223
million, and total staffing was at 1869 person-years. A slight increase was
projected for FY18. A few years ago, total funding dropped from an all-time
high of $237 million in 2012, a value related to the federal stimulus. Gender
balance among geoscientists is gradually rising, and is now at 28%. The Journal
is available here.

Thursday, December 06, 2018

Don Hoskins, State Geologist of Pennsylvania from 1986 to 2000, has died of a sudden and unexpected cerebral hemorrhage. Upon his passing, he still had a geologic map in progress. While AASG President in 1994/1995, he played a key role in enhancing the National Geologic Mapping Program. Previous to that, Don was AASG Secretary-Treasurer from 1990 to 1992. Don played a leadership role in the commemoration of the AASG Centennial in 2008. He will be missed.

Thursday, October 25, 2018

Scott Tinker has received the 2018 AGI Medal in Memory of
Ian Campbell for Superlative Service to the Geosciences, AGI’s highest award.

The AGI citation notes, for example, that Scott has served
the geoscience profession admirably at many levels, including as President of
AGI (2015-16), AAPG (2008-09), and
AASG (2007-08), as well as in various
capacities for SEPM and SEG.

The Medal honors Ian Campbell, 1959-1969 State
Geologist of California, whose service to the profession touched virtually
every facet of the geosciences. Campbell was a most uncommon man of remarkable
candor, integrity, accomplishment, and influence as a geologist, educator,
administrator, and public servant.

The Campbell Medal holds special significance for AASG, due
to the role that Ian Campbell played in AASG, and due to the respect and
admiration that the AASG community felt for Ian.

The Medal is presented each year to a nationally recognized,
living statesman with a distinguished record of significant achievements in
science, education, and administration, in support of the profession of geology
and its role in society.

The award is intended to inspire us all to similarly
contribute to our science, our profession, and to the public.

AGI has presented their 2018 William B. Heroy Jr. Award for
Distinguished Service to AGI to Rex Buchanan, Director Emeritus of the Kansas
Geological Survey (KGS). The AGI citation states that Rex’s contributions to
AGI span decades and are among the highlights of his career as a geoscientist
and science communicator, and as interim director of the KGS from 2010 to 2016.

AGI has awarded their 2018 Award for Outstanding
Contribution to the Public Understanding of the Geosciences to Dr. David
Applegate, Associate Director for Natural Hazards at USGS. The AGI citation states that throughout, for example, frequent
congressional testimony and media interviews, “Dave’s calm demeanor and
penchant for explaining complicated information clearly to the general public
in these interviews became hallmarks of his communication success.”

Sunday, August 19, 2018

Bob Doyle, former Director of the Maine Geological Survey, passed away on August 13. He developed a rigorous program in economic geology, and in 1967 oversaw the creation of the first modern statewide bedrock geologic map of Maine. In his later years, he remained active in the geological community and introduced many students to geology through the courses he offered at the local community college. His obituary is available here.

Sunday, June 10, 2018

On July 1st, 2018, Karen Berry, State Geologist of Colorado, will become AASG President. Karen has been with the Colorado survey since 1999. Previously, she was an exploration geologist in Texas, engineering geologist in Arizona, geotechnical reclamation specialist, and a county geologist. She serves on several boards and commissions. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in geological engineering from Colorado School of Mines in 1982.

The AASG Mankin Award recognizes the best nominated state
geological survey publications in regional, energy, or mineral resource
geology, with an emphasis on surface or subsurface geologic mapping,
compilations, and associated reports. The 2018 Mankin Award has been presented
to New Mexico authors, for Memoir 50 — Energy and Mineral Resources of New
Mexico

Monday, May 14, 2018

Bob Marvinney, State Geologist of Maine, is the longest-serving
State Geologist, having been appointed in 1995. Bob is originally from New
Jersey. After studying geology in college and graduate school, he worked
briefly in the oil business in Houston before joining the Maine Geological
Survey.

Simon Engelhart has been named State Geologist of Rhode
Island. Among his many contributions, Simon has done research on relative
sea-level changes from Last Glacial Maximum to present, glacial isostatic
adjustment modeling, coastal paleoseismology and paleogeodesy, as well as paleoenvironmental
reconstruction using micropaleontology. Simon holds degrees from Durham
University and University of Pennsylvania.

Tim Cowman has been named State Geologist of South Dakota. Among
his many contributions, Tim has done research on the historical and recent
geology of the Missouri River, including the geomorphic processes that control
river dynamics, river energy distribution, and sedimentation. He has a Master's Degree in Natural Sciences from University of South Dakota, and a Bachelor's Degree in Earth Sciences and Chemistry, also from USD.

Friday, April 20, 2018

After 39½ years with the South Dakota Geological Survey, and 21 years as State Geologist, Derric Iles retired on April 20, 2018. He contributed extensively to documenting the geology of his state, he hosted a superb 2013 AASG Annual Meeting, and he did an excellent job on AASG Executive as Treasurer. For his service, Derric received the 2018 AASG Distinguished Service Award. He and Irma will now retire to Missoula, Montana.

Saturday, March 10, 2018

Delaware State Geologist David Wunsch and the staff of the Delaware
Geological Survey will host the 110th Annual Meeting of the Association
of American State Geologists (AASG) at the Atlantic Sands Hotel &
Convention Center in Rehoboth Beach, from June 3rd to 7th,
2018. The web site and registration for invited attendees are now open:

Thursday, March 08, 2018

Charles Walter "Bud" Hendry Jr., State Geologist of
Florida from 1971 to 1988, has passed away. Over 39 years with the Survey, he also
was draftsman’s assistant, stratigrapher, water resource manager, Assistant
State Geologist, and contributor to 19 Survey publications. He was a pioneer in
informed water resource and land-use management, coauthor of ‘Springs of
Florida’, and overseer of new mines and energy regulatory programs. Photo: State Archives of Florida

Tuesday, February 06, 2018

Emery Cleaves, Maryland State Geologist from 1992 to 2006, passed
away on Saturday, February 3, 2018. He was President of the Association of
American State Geologists in 2002-2003, and in 2010, he received the AASG
Distinguished Service Award (DSA), as an indication of the many roles he played
in AASG. He was highly engaged in water resource issues, and he
was a tireless advocate for stream gauges.

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

On January 26th, the White House announced their nominee to
be USGS Director - Dr. James F. Reilly, II, Ph.D., of Colorado Springs. Their
release indicated that he is now an advisor for the U.S. Air Force, while he previously
held management positions in academia and business. During his 13 year career
at NASA, he flew 3 spaceflight missions, conducting 5 spacewalks for a total of
over 856 hours in space. Prior to NASA, he was chief geologist at Enserch
Exploration, Inc., where he worked in in Antarctica and the Gulf of Mexico. He
earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in geosciences from the University of Texas at
Dallas.